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Orthodontic applianceRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Orthodontics, Bracket, Having Means To Secure Arch WireOrthodontic appliance description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070207436, Orthodontic appliance. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to orthodontic appliances. In one form, the present invention relates to orthodontic brackets and/or buccal tubes for positioning on labial, buccal, occlusal and/or lingual surfaces of teeth. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Orthodontic tooth movement is a specialised branch of dentistry which is involved with the re-arrangement of crooked teeth into an aesthetic, functional and harmonious position relative to the rest of the face. [0003] In comprehensive orthodontic treatment, orthodontic brackets are bonded to the surfaces of most or all of the teeth in the mouth. Orthodontic brackets can be bonded on the outside (labial or buccal) or the inside (lingual) surfaces of teeth. For braces bonded on the outside of teeth, patients generally prefer the brackets to be as small as possible so that it would appear less visible and hence pose less of an aesthetic problem to the wearer. [0004] The orthodontic brackets tend to have rectangular slots that are open on one side to accept orthodontic archwires. For brackets bonded on the outside surfaces of teeth, the opening for each archwire slot is conventionally on the labial or buccal side. For brackets bonded on the inside surfaces of teeth, the opening for each archwire slot is either on the lingual or occlusal side. [0005] One archwire is usually used for each jaw. The archwire may be round or rectangular in cross section and inserted into the slots of all the brackets in the same arch. For the molars or big posterior teeth, the archwire is usually passed through either brackets or tubes which are attached to the molars. The archwire ends at or behind the last molar tooth with appliance. [0006] In order to effect tooth movement, the archwire must be securely held in the archwire slots so that orthodontic forces can be applied to the teeth in the arch. Orthodontic forces required to effect physiological tooth movement are typically 200 g or below per tooth. Excessive forces cause pain to the patient and can also retard tooth movement. For effective tooth movement the archwire should be free to move within the confines of the archwire slot. [0007] Currently most orthodontists use ligatures to connect the archwire to the brackets and to push the archwire to seat within the archwire slots. One type of commercially available orthodontic ligature is a small elastomeric ring. This is made from polyurethane and is also known as a module or "O" ring. In use, the doctor stretches the elastomeric ring around the tiewings (legs connected to the bracket body) on both the gingival and occlusal aspects of the bracket. Once employed, the elastomeric ring extends around the tiewings as well as the labial aspect of the archwire thereby applying a seating force on the archwire towards the lingual wall of the archwire slot. [0008] One disadvantage of this elastomeric ring is the tendency for force decay as the material absorbs moisture and stains. It also attracts bacterial plaque and can sometimes spontaneously dislodge from the bracket. The elastomeric ring when freshly installed also have a gripping force on the archwire thereby there is a tendency to increase friction between the archwire and the bracket. This is undesirable when optimum tooth movement is the objective. [0009] Metal ligature can also be used to retain archwire in archwire slots of brackets. Metal ligatures are made from "dead soft" stainless steel wires of small diameters. During use, the wire ligature is hooked around the occlusal and gingival tiewings and over the labial side of the archwire. The ends of the ligature are then twisted and tightened around the tiewings of the brackets. Metal ligatures take a longer time to place as compared to elastomeric ligatures and can unravel in the patient's mouth during chewing, poking the soft tissues of the patient's mouth. [0010] Both types of elastomeric and metal ligatures are considered time consuming to install and additional pliers are required for placement. [0011] In order to overcome the problems associated with conventional ligatures there has been developed or proposed a variety of orthodontic brackets with various types of latches for coupling the archwire to the bracket. These brackets are commonly known as self-ligating brackets. These brackets use a form of latch to open and close the archwire slots. The latch comprises a clip, hook, spring member, cover, shutter, bail or other structure that is connected to the body of the bracket for the purpose of retaining the archwire in the archwire slot. [0012] Some examples of self-ligating orthodontic brackets are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,772,787, 4,248,588 and 4,492,573, disclosing U-shaped ligating latch clips, while U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,094,614, 5,322,435 and 5,613,850 disclose sliding closure latches. The opening and closing of the sliding closure latch is by means of a spring or a clamping release mechanism. Another type of self-ligating orthodontic bracket is cover-plate type latch, wherein the opening and closing of the cover-plate type latch is via a spring or a rotatable locking mechanism. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,516,284, 5,685,711 and 5,711,666 disclose cover-plate type latches using spring mechanisms while U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,423, 4,371,337, 4,559,012 and 4,712,999, disclose cover-plate type latches using rotatable locking mechanisms. Other types of self-ligating orthodontic brackets using wire-like latches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,149,314, 4,260,375, 4,725,229 and 5,269,681. [0013] All types of currently available self-ligating brackets are considered similar in one way. All self-ligating brackets have a small movable part of the bracket that is positioned in open slot position to accept an archwire and then moves to a closed slot position to contain or lock the archwire. To remove the archwire from the bracket, the movable part has to be returned to the open slot position. [0014] For the orthodontist the procedure to remove and insert the archwire involves the use of additional instruments to move the movable part of the self-ligating bracket from open slot to close slot and vice versa. This can be fiddly and can also pose a problem to orthodontists who are sight challenged as the movable parts are always relatively small in size. [0015] A recent U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,226 B2 discloses an orthodontic appliance with a self-releasing latch. The latch, includes at least one arm portion, is connected to the body and moves relative to the body of the bracket to either open the archwire slot to accept an archwire or close the slot to release an archwire. The arm portion is secured to the body of the bracket by means of welding or brazing, by an adhesive, by fasteners or by any other suitable means. The arm portion may disconnect from the body during use or in-used. Hence, there is a high risk of inhalation or swallowing of the arm portion by the patient, if the arm portion becomes disconnected. [0016] In summary, there are considered 2 main disadvantages with regard to the currently available types of self-ligating and self-releasing brackets. [0017] Firstly, in the course of orthodontic treatment archwires need to be placed and replaced at regular intervals in the archwire slots. The repeated gross movements of tiny movable parts of the brackets (either connected or separate) relative to the main bodies of the brackets is undesirable as fatigue is likely to set in, resulting in microfractures or breakages with the attendant risk of inhalation or swallowing of small parts of bracket material by the patient. This can be potentially catastrophic and the risk although relatively small may be life threatening to the patient. [0018] Secondly, all existing bracket systems whether conventional, self-ligating or self-releasing have slots with occlusal and gingival sides which are rigid and immovable relative to each other. With severely malpositioned teeth, the roots of such teeth are frequently far away from the ideal positions. To align such teeth, both the roots and crowns must be moved to the correct position. Root movement in such cases is necessary for stability of the corrected crown position. To move the roots of such malpositioned teeth a long distance, rectangular archwires with twisting forces (torque forces) are required in rectangular archwire slots. When such a rectangular wire is first inserted into the archwire slot of a severely malpositioned tooth, the wire must be forcibly positioned into the slot. Such forces are always in excess of usual orthodontic forces and pain and discomfort are experienced by the patient when the gingival and occlusal sides are rigid and immovable. [0019] Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Singapore or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. [0020] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved orthodontic appliance. [0021] A further object of the present invention is to alleviate at least one disadvantage associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Orthodontic appliance... Full patent description for Orthodontic appliance Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Orthodontic appliance patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Orthodontic appliance or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Orthodontic appliance and method of debonding same Next Patent Application: Unified workstation for virtual craniofacial diagnosis, treatment planning and therapeutics Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Orthodontic appliance patent info. 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